Master Parrella's Kung Fu Centers

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San 陳泰山 was born in 1917 in Toi-San, located in the Guangdong province of China. He began his Kung-Fu training at the early age of 8 years old. His first style was Hung Fist (Hung Kuyhnn - the predecessor to modern Hung-Ga) taught by a friend of his parents, Yee Hoi-Loong. Grandmaster Chan studied with his Sifu several times a week for 5 years and became quite proficient in that style.

At the age of 13, he was sent by his family to the Clear Cloud Temple “Ching Waan Jih” where he began training in Kung-Fu and Buddhism. Jyu Jik Chuyhn 朱亦傳 was his primary teacher, but he was also trained by the head monk, Jaang San-Yin, and Gaai-Si Wu-Song. He trained in a variety of styles at the temple but primarily learned the Choy Lay Fut style.

At 18 he left the monastery to fight against Japanese occupation during WWII. He trained with and served with some of the great Kung-Fu fighters of that time; Cheung Lai-Chung (Bok Mei, White Eyebrow Style), Bok Mo Jyu, Nicknamed the "White Haired Devil" (Hung Fut Style) and many more.

After the war, he traveled the country meeting and training with more Sifu, like the famous Mok Jing-Kiu (Head of the Mok Family Style) and Chan Sai-Mo of the Choy Lay Fut style. He returned in his 40's to the Clear Cloud Temple and learned Lama Pai from Jyu Chuyhn and later the great Lama Pai Kung-Fu Master Ma Yi-Po.

He became a Master of dozens of Kung-Fu styles along with both popular and esoteric Chinese Kung-Fu weapons. He was well trained in Iron Palm, Iron Body and Internal Energy Development (Chi). He had devoted his entire life to training and promoting Chinese Martial Arts in China and abroad. Grandmaster Chan was the coach of the Canton Province Martial Arts Demonstration Team from 1980-1982, and is recognized by the People's Republic of China as one of its 'Living Treasures.'

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San's Lama Pai Kung-Fu, Choy Lay Fut and many other styles have been passed down to Sifu Michael Parrella and some of his select classmates. Follow this link to see Sifu Parrella's classmates - the senior students of Grandmaster Chan Tai-San.

Click Here for:

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San's Picture Gallery

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San's Disciple Gallery

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San's Video Gallery

Grandmaster Chan Tai-San's Drawings and Calligraphy Gallery